Page "Domitian" Paragraph 14

On 9 June 68, amidst growing opposition of the Senate and the army, Nero committed suicide, and with him the Julio-Claudian dynasty came to an end.

Chaos ensued, leading to a year of brutal civil war known as the Year of the Four Emperors, during which the four most influential generals in the Roman Empire — Galba, Otho, Vitellius and Vespasian — successively vied for imperial power.

News of Nero's death reached Vespasian as he was preparing to besiege the city of Jerusalem.

Almost simultaneously the Senate had declared Galba, then governor of Hispania Tarraconensis ( modern Spain ), as Emperor of Rome.

Rather than continue his campaign, Vespasian decided to await further orders and send Titus to greet the new Emperor.

Before reaching Italy however, Titus learnt that Galba had been murdered and replaced by Otho, the governor of Lusitania ( modern Portugal ).

At the same time Vitellius and his armies in Germania had risen in revolt, and prepared to march on Rome, intent on overthrowing Otho.

Not wanting to risk being taken hostage by one side or the other, Titus abandoned the journey to Rome and rejoined his father in Judaea.